Page:Psychology and preaching.djvu/138

 120 PSYCHOLOGY AND PREACHING

directed upon the act of muscular relaxation itself. The same result might be accomplished by the resolute fixing of the attention in any other direction away from the cause of the anger. The voluntary control of one s own emotion is, then, a matter of the control, or the direction, of the attention.

One can, however, be more successful in controlling the contraction of the externally acting organs by a sheer reso lution of the will, directed immediately upon the muscles controlling them; and can thus, without experiencing the appropriate emotions, imitate at least many of the move ments by which the emotions normally express themselves to others through these organs. He can clinch his fist, or ex tend his arms in pleading gestures, or stamp his feet, or scream or moan, etc., by a direct act of the will without the corresponding emotions. However, these actions, if they are true forms of the expression of the emotions tend to induce in some measure the corresponding internal ten sions with their attendant states of consciousness ; but this is usually accomplished only in small measure. The dis proportion in such a case between the external demonstra tion and the internal disturbance is too evident, and makes a proportionately weak impression on the observer. There is too much thunder and too little lightning; too much sound and fury, signifying nothing.

It is apparent now what is the psychological explanation of &quot; tearing a passion to tatters.&quot; It is outward demonstra tion which is not the expression of a corresponding inward, or organic disturbance ; violent contraction of the external muscular system, when the internal systems controlling the vital processes are not tense with emotion, and there is therefore little conscious realization of the meaning of what is being said with much vociferation and gesticulation. High and loud tones of voice, and excited flinging of the arms and stamping of the feet are not acceptable, not even pardonable, except as the expressions of genuine emotions of a corresponding intensity. It is impossible by such super ficial means to conceal the deficiency of real emotion, for

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